<p>how much does a really solid art portfolio help your chances e/d? my daughter has been studying with some pretty well known artists in the bay area and abroad and is painting/drawing at a graduate school level according to her professors. she’s only 15 and a senior because she was grade accelerated 7/8 grade, went to high school at 11.</p>
<p>she’s really smart, great GPA and in the top 4%, rigorous academics but not a lot of extracurri. just tons of art and art study with atiliers and actually apprenticing with a local SF artist; she paints in the classical style and nudes. she is also on the surf team, so her focus as far as extra stuff has been totally art/surfing.</p>
<p>down side, she was lazy and didn’t study prep much for the SATS…she got an 1800, which isn’t horrible but do the extra talent stuff, great recommendations/grade skipping work in her favor?
thanks</p>
<p>My son actually just got accepted and will be attending Pomona (yay!) However, it sure doesn’t make me any expert on the insides of the admission process there. With all top schools, I think it’s something of a crapshoot. </p>
<p>I read this article by Dean of Admissions, Bruce Poch, after my son was admitted, and reading it in hindsight, my reaction was that it was right on target. My son has always been his authentic self. When he decided to take classes that he knew were impossible for him to get an A (ie, Honors Physics!- because it did not play to his strengths coupled with a teacher who was notoriously difficult), he did so anyway because he wanted to know more about physics. I held my breath, silently wishing he had waited till senior year to satisfy this particular academic curiosity, but no, he wanted to explore it early on because he was ready to then. Kind of like your daughter skipping 7 & 8.</p>
<p>The B-'s in physics seemed to not be a dealbreaker with the adcoms there as things have turned out. I am pretty sure it’s because they fit in with who son is as an entire person - and they really do look at the entire person.</p>
<p>[Keep</a> It Honest, Keep It Real | Newsweek Kaplan College Guide | Newsweek.com](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/id/154329/page/1]Keep”>http://www.newsweek.com/id/154329/page/1)</p>
<p>Your son was just accepted? When did he hear?!</p>
<p>On 12/1. He’s a “Quest Scholar”. He started a thread down below called Class of 2013, but he seems to be the only one in it for now :)</p>
<p>Good luck!! You should be hearing very soon!</p>
<p>ah yes. Well, congratulations!</p>
<p>Thanks - we’re thrilled!</p>
<p>(And, sorry to OP for hijacking!)</p>